Floor-laying tool.



I wi/weoom s2 H. L. SANDERSON.

FLOOR LAYING TOOL.

APPLICATION HLED AUG-t6. 1916.

Patented Sept. 4, 1917.

2 SQHEETSSHEET l.

, lmltlllliillllli g mum H. L. SANDERSON.

FLOOR LAYING TOOL.

APPLICATION FILED ums. 1916.

I Patented Sept. 4, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

HARVEY L; sANDERsoN, or CHEWELAI-I, VWASHINGIIONV FLOOR-LAYING TOOL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 4, 191 7.

Application filed August 16, 1916.. Serial 110,115,261.

T0 aZZwhom,firmly concern;

Be it known that 1, Harvey L.,SA DER- sox, a. citizen of the UnitedStates, residing atChewelah. in; the county of Stevens and State ofWashington, have invented new and useful Improvements in Floor-LayingTools, of which the following isa specification.

This invention comprehends the provision of a device to facilitate thelaying of floor.- ing, and aims to provide a means for effect,-

ing a perfectly tightv joint between. the

tongue and groove of the respectivefioor sections, andi therebyeliminate cracks and. openings between the sections as theresult of animproper fit between the parts..-

Another important object of the invention. residesin the provision; of adevice of this character by means of which the floor sections willbeheld in effective engagement with each other while being nailedsecurely in place. 7

Among other features the invention em bodies a clamp capable of beingadjusted to accommodate itself to joists of different widths, upon whichthe flooring is to be laid.

The nature and advantages of the invention will be better understoodwhen the fol lowing description is read in connection with theaccompanying drawings, the invention residing in the construction,combination and arrangement of parts as claimed.

In the drawings forming part of this specification like numerals ofreference inclicate similar parts in the several views and whereinFigure 1 is a side elevation showing the manner of using the device.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 33 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view of the grooved block.

Fig. 5 is a similar view of a modified form of block.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail view of a modified form of clamp.

The device forming the subject matter of my invention embodies a clampconsisting of a substantially L-shaped member, the longer limb 10 ofwhich is adapted to rest upon the joist A, while the shorter limb 11' isarranged at one side of the joist. The limb 10 is longitudinally slottedas at 12 to receive a threaded bolt 13, which is passed through acam-shaped dog 14:, a nut 15 being associated with thebolt to holdthedog fixed relatively to the limb l0 of the clamp. The dog 14 has atoothed surface 15ad'apted to engage the side of the joist A oppositethe side engaged by the limb 11 of the vclamp, and cooperates with thelimb 11 to hold the clamp in its entirety fixed upon the joist A. Thedog is capable of adjustment longitu dinally of thelimb 10, so thattheclainp can accommodate; itself to joists of different dimensions Alever 16 has an offset terminal 1'? arranged within a socket 18 formedon the upper extremity of the limb 1-1, and passed through the socketand offset terminal of the lever, is a pivot pin 19 by means of whichthe lever is mounted for. pivotal movement; A floor engaging. block 20,is indirectly associated with the lever through the instrumentality of a.link- 2l,one end of the latter being pivotally connected to the leverat its point of juncture with the offset portion 17 thereof, while theopposite end of the link is pivotally associated with the block 20. Theblock is provided with a transverse groove 22 for the reception of thetongue on each floor section B, while the block is further formed withan extension 23 adapted to engage the under side of the floor sections13 to prevent the block from turning or twisting when pressure isbrought against it. v

In operation the lever 16 is moved toward the operator, and a floorsection B laid upon the joist A. The tongue of the section is thenarranged within the groove 22 of the block 20, and the lever 16subsequently moved forwardly or away from the operator with a view offorcing the floor section B to its proper position upon'the joist A, andefi'ecting a tight joint between the tongue and groove connection of therespective sections. Manifestly when the section B is forced to itsproper position, the lever 16 is so disposed that the parts willmaintain their active positions, thereby holding the section B in placewhile the operator securely nails the floor section to the foundation,while the second flooring is made up of high grade material. In layingtwo floorings, it is manifest that the clamp above described could notbe successfully employed, and for such instances I provide a modifiedform of clamp illustrated in Fig. 6. This clamp consists of a base 25from which rises spaced parallel lugs 26 between which the lever 16 ispivotally mounted together with its associated parts hereinaboveenumerated. Depending from the under side of the base 25 is a pluralityof pointed supports 27 adapted to be driven into the first flooring,subsequent to which the device is operated in identically the samemanner as hereinabove set forth. l/Vhen the device is used in laying twofioorings, a block 28 of the character disclosed in Fig. is employed,which is similar in construction to the block above described, exceptthat the extension 23. is eliminated. The device is extremely simple inits make-up, and is very advantageous and efficient for effecting atight connection between the floor sections, and also in forcing crackedor warped boards snugly together.

While I have shown and described what I consider the preferredembodiment of the invention I desire to have it understood that I do notlimit myself to this precise construction, and that such changes may beresorted to when desired as fall within the scope of what is claimed.

associated with the longer limb, the pivot for said dog beinglongitudinally adjustable in said slot, spaced parallel apertured lugsprojecting from the clamp at the point of juncture of the respectivelimbs, a lever pivoted between said lugs a grooved block,

and a link having one end pivotally asso ciated with said block and itsopposite end pivotally connected with the lever as and for the purposedescribed.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.v

HARVEY L. SANDERSON.v

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents.

. Washington, D. 0.

